Kitchen Tools for Disabled People

While any chef can get more done with the right kitchen gadgets the differently-abled chef needs kitchen tools specifically designed for disabled people. It isn’t that he can’t cook without them, it’s that he can do so much more, so much more effectively when special tools are used.

As you can imagine it can be difficult to find these very specialized tools. Luckily, technology and the Internet make things much more available than even a decade ago.

Some Important Kitchen Tools Designed for Disabled People

New products are being added all of the time as people discover new ways to do things. Here are some tools that you’ll want in your kitchen…

Braille Measuring Cups

Any chef can tell you that a good part of creating a successful dish is in how accurately it is measured. Braille and tactile measuring cups help the visually challenged cook to create recipes that require extremely accurate proportions. Generally the labels are raised and on the handles of the cups in both braille and regular numbering. Measuring spoons are also available with these designs.

Cutting Board with Pivoting Knife

Knife skills are some of the most important abilities to have in the kitchen, whether it’s a home kitchen or the best commercial kitchen in the world. Chopping can be a dangerous chore for people who have limited vision or coordination problems. A cutting board with an attached, pivoting knife can keep the cook safe as he creates mounds of perfectly diced vegetables or paper thin slices of meat.

Talking Food Thermometers

Imagine trying to get a steak to a perfect medium rare without the use of your meat thermometer? Visually challenged individuals can know that their dish has reached the desired temperature with a food thermometer that audibly lets them know.

Knives and Other Tools with Angled Handles

For the chef that has difficulty with grip there are a variety of knives and utensils that have angled handles, are weighted, or ergonomically shaped to fit comfortably in your hand. These include:

Bread knives

Carving forks

Carving knives

Cheese graters

Cheese slicers

Spatula

Where to Buy Kitchen Equipment for Special Needs

You may be able to find some equipment in your local medical supply store but the majority of it will have to be purchased online from stores that specialize in these tools. Not every store will have every items so outfitting your kitchen may be a challenge akin to a scavenger hunt. The cost of specialty cooking items can be high and don’t expect to find items at prices similar to the regular kitchen tools.

Here are some of the stores that you might want to check.

My Special World

My Special World has a better variety of equipment than most of the other shops online. You’ll find commercial class microwave ovens with braille keypads and voice controlled coffee machines along with the specialty knives and other equipment.

Wright Stuff

Creative adaptive equipment of all kinds fills this website. Wright Stuff carries one handed peelers, nonslip items, and pan holders along with many other things to make living with challenges easier.

Dynamic Living

Dynamic Living has a small selection of helpful equipment like rocker knives, cutting boards, and jar openers.

Life Solutions

The Life Solutions site is one of the better places to go when you need a lot of different things and an idea of just what is available. They have numerous items that you wouldn’t necessarily think of getting like bottle and cup brushes that have suctions that stick the the bottom of the sink to make cleaning easier.

The Disabled Shop

A store based in the UK, the Disabled Shop carries angled kitchen knives and other helpful prep equipment and kitchen tools.

Marye Audet is an author, freelance writer, and editor. Cooking, baking, and recipe development have been a major part of her life since she baked her first loaf of bread at age 13. Luckily, with a husband, eight children, a son in law, and three grandchildren she has enough test-tasters to handle the steady stream of experiments that come from her kitchen.